Napa hopping with music, food, film events

MUSIC

Updated 3:06 am, Sunday, October 28, 2012

Alanis Morissette will play Nov. 3 at the Uptown Theatre as part of the twice-yearly Live in the Vineyard series.

Alanis Morissette will play Nov. 3 at the Uptown Theatre as part of the twice-yearly Live in the Vineyard series.

Photo: Collective Sounds

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The restored Uptown Theatre now draws top musical talent.

The restored Uptown Theatre now draws top musical talent.

Photo: Uptown Napa

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The Hotel Yountville resort and spa offers massage and other body treatments as well as a pool.

The Hotel Yountville resort and spa offers massage and other body treatments as well as a pool.

Photo: Hotel Yountville

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The interior of the Kitchen Door restaurant in Napa, Calif., is seen on August 12th, 2011.

The interior of the Kitchen Door restaurant in Napa, Calif., is seen on August 12th, 2011.

Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle

Napa hopping with music, food, film events

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Though it's often thought of as a quiet retreat from the city where visitors can spend their days leisurely sipping Cabernet Sauvignon and listening to tweeting birds, Napa Valley is quickly turning into a lively entertainment outpost in Wine Country. With a stunning backdrop of green rolling hills and rustic architecture, the region in the past few years has become host to a series of major music and film events, boosted by an influx of wineries and restaurants intent on drawing a more sophisticated clientele. With the all-star Live in the Vineyard concert series and Napa Valley Film Festival rolling into the region over the next few weeks, why would you want to be anywhere else?

This biannual concert event draws big names to small spaces in Wine Country every April and November. Kicking off with a series of surprise in-flight concerts at 35,000 feet on select Southwest flights, this season's bill features Alanis Morissette, Adam Lambert, Gavin DeGraw, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Ryan Star and others playing acoustic sets at various wineries, resorts and the beautifully restored Uptown Theatre in downtown Napa. Rising British pop star Paloma Faith also plays a special Saturday afternoon set at Sutter Home Winery. The only catch? To attend you either have to be someone in the wine or music industry; know someone who knows someone; or win tickets on the radio. You can also enter to win tickets on the official website. For details, go to liveinthevineyard.com.

Napa Valley Film Festival, Nov. 7-11

"Somm," a motion picture about the highly competitive Master Sommelier exam, will make its world premiere at the second annual festival, which opens at the Napa Valley Opera House. Actors Alan Cumming, James Marsden, Imogen Poots and Adam Driver will be honored at the festival soiree Nov. 9; while Olympia Dukakis will be on hand to talk about her new film, "Cloudburst." In addition to the many movie screenings (including the Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro vehicle, "Silver Linings Playbook," and Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, "Quartet"), there will be winemaker dinners, panel discussions and - what else? - wine tastings. There will also be a gala Nov. 8 at Robert Mondavi Winery. For details and ticket information, go to napavalleyfilmfest.org. See full story in next Sunday's Datebook.

Flavor Napa Valley, Nov. 14-18

This four-day celebration of food and wine is highlighted by cooking demonstrations with Thomas Keller of the French Laundry, Michael Chiarello of Bottega and Cindy Pawlcyn of Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen. Benefiting the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, the event will also offer wine tastings led by experts (including a run through The Chronicle's Top 100 Wines with wine editor Jon Bonné), winemaker dinners and a "Terroir to Table" sustainable brunch. For details and tickets, go to flavornapavalley.com.

Music venues

Uptown Theatre

Meticulously restored by real estate mogul George Altamura, this former movie house has become a beacon of Napa's nightlife revival, drawing major touring acts often headed to venues like the Fillmore and Warfield in a more intimate setting. www.uptowntheatrenapa.com.

Napa Valley Opera House

This Main Street venue hosts an eclectic range of events, highlighting classical and world music. Upcoming shows include Angelique Kidjo, the Punch Brothers, and Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks' holiday show. nvoh.org.

Napa Valley Jazz Society

This self-proclaimed group of jazz lovers, educators and performers presents a series of affordable concerts at various venues in Wine Country, with upcoming shows by the Judy Wexler Quartet, Jeff Hamilton Trio and the Noel Jewkes Quartet. nvjs.org.

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